This construction project is situated in a remote mountainous area of Lianhe Village, Panzhihua City, within the ruins of the former village. The building was demolished and rebuilt by the decommissioned village committee and the local primary school.
Like many rural areas, Union Village has inevitably experienced the challenges of depopulation over time. Upon arrival, it felt as if time had paused, preserving the atmosphere of the former countryside. The echoes of village officials’ busyness and students’ recitations lingered in the air, yet the simple, dilapidated houses had become unsafe. These ruins stand as material and cultural relics of a bygone era.
The design team carried out the construction on this site of ruins.
As part of the new rural revitalization initiative, this area is set to become the focal point of the local plan to create a “beautiful countryside.” The project includes four public spaces: a kitchen and restaurant, a museum, an outdoor reception area, and a library. These correspond to the architectural spaces of three buildings and one open area from the original structures: the teacher’s school building, the village committee office, the village sun-drying field, and the primary school classroom.
The construction strategy was inspired by the site itself: to build within the ruins. The design team aimed for the new construction to be a continuation of history rather than abandonment, even though the old buildings could no longer serve their original functions. Usable structural elements of the old buildings were preserved, while unsafe structural panels were removed, retaining the original brick and concrete foundation walls.
The new building is constructed with a wooden structural system, built within the blank spaces between the original foundation walls, creating a complete and independent new system. Upon completion, the building incorporates two interwoven structural axis systems: one is the wooden framework supporting the new construction, allowing flexible interior space division; the other is the old brick and concrete foundation walls, which remain integral to the layout and serve as important markers of history and memory.
The two intertwined axes—representing history and the present—engage in a dialogue across parallel time and space, connected in a way that each complements the other.
Besides the main building, the design team also constructed two small concrete towers within the site gaps, called the “Handshake Tower” and the “Welcome Tower.” The “Handshake Tower” showcases an intersection of the new wooden structure with the old brick and concrete. The “Welcome Tower” stands at the hill’s edge, facing the village entrance, serving both as a welcoming landmark and as an anchor point for the membrane roof of the semi-outdoor living area.
The plain concrete and civil engineering work throughout the building was carried out by local villagers. Meanwhile, the modern wooden and steel membrane structures were prefabricated off-site and assembled on location. This blend of traditional handcrafted construction with modern industrial techniques embodies a harmonious integration of past and present.
Project Drawings
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Sectional Perspective
△ Sectional Perspective
Project Information
Architect: Hezuo Architectural Design Firm
Area: 1800 m²
Year: 2024
Photographers: Arch Exest, Xu Lang
Lead Architect: Xu Lang
Design Team: Xu Lang, Qiao Qiao, Qiu Xiaofeng, Shi Jiafuyi, Li Jian, Lei Yun, Yi Xiaodian (intern)
Structural Design: Luan Cong Construction Design Firm
Planning and Operations Consultant: Shanghai Pure Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Construction: Sichuan Lingqixuan Integrated Housing Co., Ltd. and Village Collective Construction Team
Wood Structure Processing: Liaoning Jinbaisheng Wood Structure Technology Co., Ltd.
Client: Yanbian County Village Collective
Location: Panzhihua
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